The time has been flying... here is some of what I've been doing...

Starting a new job has been more stressful than I predicted it would be. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my new job, but it has came with challenges.

I know I am an awful photographer... but I will show you all some pics of what I have been up to lately anyway. I will get better, I promise. (someday)

 Babysitting this cute kid. Garage saleing, going to the park, drinking lots of pumpkin spice lattes.

 Family dinners.

 Trying, failing, and trying again on "easy" pinterst crafts.

Making tasty dinners for my honey like spinach, grilled onion, bacon, and Alfredo french bread pizza.

Going to baseball games.

Going bowling with my honey and my friends.

Oh and some more babysitting with this little fellow. So precious.

Last weekend Chance got to ride this really awesome bike designed for people with disabilities. It was pretty sweet.

See? This is why I am a terrible blogger.

But maybe I am getting better.

Doggie Dress Up DIY

My little Meadow is quite the prissy little thing. She doesn't like to be cold. To her, 50 degrees is freezing and she doesn't want to go outside. I have realized that if I want her to go outside this winter, I better get her used to sweaters now.

I whipped this little number up in about 3 minutes. I have a very cute thin sweater that is nice and stretchy, but I just never seem to pull it out of the closet. I have it in my mind to make a few other things out of it as well. It was so easy to make this doggie sweater, I didn't even need to take step by step pics. Here is how it goes:
1. Cut a sleeve out of a stretchy sweater or knit long sleeve shirt
2. Try it on your doggie to figure out where you should cut the arm holes
3. Take it off the doggie, and cut the arm holes. I made some v shape slits that worked perfect.
4. Put on your doggie and watch them try to get it off.

Now, this next picture I am going to show you, is kind of violent, so young children or the elderly should look away from the screen as they might be frightened.

I know. It gets intense around here.

I'm working on this little knitting project too. I think I started sometime last fall... le sigh. Meadow is a good model.

Hey look I did something productive...

I'm working on organizing this crazy craft room. It shouldn't be so hard, but I am the queen of procrastination. There is always something I would rather be doing, like you know, watching 48 hours on the ID channel for 4 straight hours.

Not only did I make a very cute little upcycled storage box using found brown wrapping paper and chalk board labels I got at World Market months ago, I also set up a little table and side table for my lap top/printer. Woo. Go me. I really really want to find a nice sturdy desk, I think I mentioned that, but for now this works. I started going through some craft supplies too, sorting thread, hair accouterments, and sharpies into their designated places. I have a lot of projects I could work on at any given time here... Its a sickness really.

I'm also procrastinating on my work documentation. I HATE IT SO MUCH!!! I need to get caught up and planned to this weekend but something always seemed to get in the way. Maybe I'll work on it after dinner... Doubtful. There will probably be something good on TV.   

Right now I am waiting on the most delicious smelling dish to get done in the oven. It is called "No Peek Beef Tips," but I'm about to go break the rules. They are supposed to cook in the oven for 3 hours but I can't remember exactly what time I started them. I also only had a pound of beef and it called for 2, so I added some venison. I hope it doesn't disappoint. I should make a salad to go with, but I'll probably go for green beans because I am lazy on Sundays.

These pretty little things are smiling in my garden. They have done really well. The rest of my garden was a toss up. I got a few harvestings of cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, and one good cantaloupe. The corn absolutely fried in the heat and drought... which sucked! Oh well, I did better this year keeping the weeds out at least... maybe next year will be better. I wish I would have planted some fall lettuce... I guess its not too late.

Oh one last thing... Tomorrow makes exactly the 173rd time I have given up diet dr pepper. Wish me luck. Without the looming deadline of the wedding stressing me out, I really have no reason not to get in awesome shape and kick all my bad habits!

Happy rest of the weekend...

<3,
Ash

The devil, aka pinterest made me do it. Again.

Did you know that when you cut a hole in a canned biscuit and fry it an a half an inch of oil and then roll it in cinnamon sugar it turns into the most tasty doughnut ever? And served with milk it is magical? And if you also whip a thin maple glaze to drizzle over it, it is sinfully delicious? Of course you did. Your parents did it probably at least a dozen times when you a kid. BUUUUTTTTTT you forgot, that is until you spent an hour looking through recipes on pinterest.





The end.

p.s.
pinterest also made me do this: deep dish pizza

 and this: frozen produce

 and these: pie pops

 and these: frozen blueberries dunked in honey greek yogurt

 and a banana oatmeal smoothie

I just looked back on my pinterest board and just as I suspected... I didn't pin or like any of these things... Sometimes I just like to look at 10 of the same thing then take what I like and mix it all up.

Why are all my blog titles about pinterest?

I am getting my hair chopped off in a week. Any suggestions???

Marvelous Monday

I really hate Monday's. I mean, I am pretty sure my bed is never as comfortable as it is any other time than Monday morning,. Yesterday I was out of bed at like five just chipper as a squirrel. This morning I hit my snooze about 17 times and barely made it to work on time. Luckily, I have premade coffee in my fridge, and I also whipped up some tasty breakfast sandwiches for my freezer the other day. I didn't take any pictures while I did it, mostly because I suck at taking pictures, but also because I am a terrible blogger and wasn't even thinking about it while I was slaving away in front of the stove. I didn't use this recipe (who needs a recipe for making a breakfast sandwich, oh wait I'm about to post one here) , but I used the same egg baking method. I think if you were going to eat the eggs right then it would be tasty, but I'm not really a fan of the yolks of hard boiled eggs especially after they are frozen and reheated. Next time I shall try another method. I digress... It was fast, and it was edible, and I fed the dogs the yolks... and everyone was happy. I actually think next time I will try making frozen b-fast burritos... mmm...

So I do have an actual real recipe to post here on the blog today. Shocking I know. I got it from Better Home and Gardens Canning edition. It was almost 10 bucks, but I think it was worth it. Here goes:

So Sweet Squash Pickles:
3 Small yellow summer squash cut into 1/2 inch thick slices (I used that fancy wavy cutter, worked like a charm)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 large red pepper cut into thin strips
1 Tbs pickling salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 tsp mustard seeds
3/4 tsp celery seeds
1/4 tsp dry mustard

I doubled this recipe and I also added turmeric...  This was an accident because I was making these at the same time I was making bread and butter pickles and I looked at the wrong recipe for a second... however, I like the addition and these things are freaking awesome. It made the onions all tasty and yellow too.

So back to the details. These are so so easy. They are just refrigerator "pickles" so need for any fancy canning equipment. Just remember that any recipe for "refrigerator" pickles of any kind means they have to stay in the fridge, and they only stay good a few months.

1. In a large nonmetal bowl combine the veggies and sprinkle with the salt, cover and chill one hour. Drain well.
2. Combine sugar, vinegar, and spices. Bring to a boil. Add veggies. Return to boiling, then remove from heat.
3. Ladle mixture into sterilized jars.
4. Chill at least 24 hours before serving.

Ta da! Someone will think you have mad skills if you make them these. I do beleive Chance must have said "These are SO good" at least 10 times during dinner.

These are bbq chicken tacos, but these sweet pickles would be good on just about anything. I also put them in potato salad the other day and it was awesome.

Chance approves this message.

See that pile of wedding stuff in the back of the picture? I moved that to the craft room tonight. It was a good accomplishment. Jessi moved out earlier this summer and I have just been delaying re organizing my craft stuff. My "dining room" feels giant again.

I have so many unfinished projects! The biggest one being the craft room. What's your biggest unfinished project?

Laters.
Ashley <3

Pinterest Made Me Do It

Cake batter cookies just sound so wrong... mmm but they were tasty, and easy. I used this recipe although I'm sure there are several out there. I even found some cute little brown, yellow, and orange sprinkles to use. I only baked a few, and decided that they would be very good as slice and bake cookies.

I wrapped them up in some heavy duty foil and ta da! These cookies are good, but best right out of the oven, or shamefully, as the frozen cookie dough.

I have been doing several crafts and recipes from the beloved pinterest lately. I have a lot backed up that  I need to share. My bestie gave me a slap on the wrist for being a blog slacker. At least I have loyal followers! I can't be mad at that!

I am so grateful for the cool weather yesterday and today. I'm currently sitting by my open window with puppy and kitty on my lap snuggling for warmth! Lol. I also made some very tasty homemade maple coffeemate type creamer. It is perfect in pumpkin pie spice flavored coffee.

Uh oh, the puppy just noticed the kitty so I better go before this computer gets knocked off my lap.